Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-10-26
UniyersaIists Decrease and Universslism
Grows.
Ns1g York Sun

A new confession OF Ialtn tOr the UNI
versalists has been presented to the Cen
eral Convention Of that communion now
in session ia New York, and referred to
the next annual meeting of the body. 1t
modifes and somewhat extends the original
creed , adopted in 1903, but, 30 far as We
can discover, it does not essentially change
il. The four articles of the new and brie
creed express belief 10 the revelation OF
the Scriptures, in the Trinity, in the final
holiness aud happiness OF all mankind, aud
in the duty of striving for present saliva
ton by repentance of sin and the dltlgent
use of the means of grace.
Practically that is the creed Of a very
yreat part OF modern Professionalism, though
Cniyersalism in its early days was, per
haps, more obnoxious than any other form
OF belief to the churches which were clasSed
as evangelical. 1t was u common object Ol
ridicule among them, on the GROUND that
if all men were to be ultimately saved, II
WAS absurd to take the trouble OF estab-
fishing church for their conversion here.
But as time has gone on, the UniversaliSts
have ceased to attract controversial atten-
ton, because UniyersaliSm has more and
more extended in the very COmmuniOns
which we're once its bitterest enemies.
The preaching OF the doctrine OF hell has
been very generally abandoned IN most
Protestant denominations, and the word
hell itself has been left out OF the new
translation OF the Scriptures.
Since the opposition to them has been
withdrawn, the uiyersalists, very natur'
ally, have declined in Importance. ThelI
present church membership, as returned &c
the Convention on Wednesday, Is only
%. 2g7. Here in New York they were
made prominent in the days Of the Rev
DIR. Chaplin by his great reputation as
pulpit orator, but since his death, and Is
pecIally since the widespread change II
Protestant sentiment regarding elern%
punishment, they have almost disappeared
from public notice, so that only wheI
their general Convention occurs are people
reminded Of their sectarian existence. Il
is a good deal with them rs it is with TIT
old Abel!tiOnists; their battle has beef
bought and won, ana thele does not seen
TO be any reason for their longer keeping
up the fight.
The spirit of the creed proposed to then
on Wednesday is essentially the splnt
the faith held by those Congregations
theologians who argued at Springfield
against the exclusion Of missionaries iron
the American Board because OF their belle
in future probation for the heather. !
was said. too, Mt the time of that debate
| that there was only one COngregatlonalls
| clergyman in Boston who eonld stand Tn
| test of his orthodoxy imposed by tn
| American Board on its missionaries
least = modified IniYerSallsm IS IN
! faith Of the majority Of the younger Con
yregaiional theologians OF New Eng land
| aud of the majority OF the laymen Gi TN
generation.
The old fear of hell, il can hardly be de
MED, is rapidly departing from anon
Pedestrians generally. Even at the Oeea
Grove camp meetings this summer tn
terrors Of the lake Of hire were no
PAINTED as formerly by the eS
horters. Their pictures, rather, we're
the glories OF heaven, upon which Pre-
testants commonly are at present aecuS
toned to dwell, to the exclusion OF III
torments of the damned, once describe
and dwelt upon rs a necessary part G
every orthodox sermon. Now there come
| in an optimistic hope, if not a relief, ths
the Divine love and justice will, in tn
words of the new Uniyersalist creed, brin
to pass 'the tinal holiness and hapPines
of all mankind"
Uuiversalism therefore no longer nesd
a separate organization to preserve an
proclaim doctrines 80 comforting to III
soul of man. Yet the word he'll Gnd To
conception of he'll are still preserved In tn
speech Of the profane, and the huma
sense of Justice still looks forward to tn
future punishment ~ necessary for TO
righting of things on this earth. Men ma
be very glad to be told that they them
selves are not going to hell, but they fe'
sure that il is the only nit place for som
other people.